Combination-setting for precious stones



(No Model.) I

. M R COMBINATION SETTING FOR PREGIOUS STONES.

No.'42 0 ,499. Patented Feb. 4, 1890.

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. MORSE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

COMBINATION-SETTING FOR PRECIOUS STONES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 420,499, dated February 4, 1890.

Application filed June 11, 1889. Serial No. 313,848. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN F. lVIOREE, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Combination-Setting for Precious Stones, of which the following is a specification.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference-letters indicate the same or corresponding parts, Figure l represents the head or setting. Fig. 2 shows my invention applied to a stud; Figs. 3, 4, 5, G, 7, and 10, different forms of application to a ring; and Figs. 8 and 9, two forms of application to a bracelet.

In combination-jewelry the precious stone is secured by any suitable means in a holding device, technically termed the head or setting, which is adapted to be detachably fastened to different articles of jewelry, so that the stone can be worn with one or another, as maybe desired. The ordinary method of securing the head to the ring, pin, or other article to be worn is by forming an internal screw on the one and an external screw on the other and screwing them together. This allows them to become occasionally unscrewed by accident, and therefore renders the stone liable to become detached and lost. The obj ect of my invention is to remedy this defect by providing means which will automatically lock the head or setting, so as to prevent it becoming accidentally unscrewed, while permitting it to be readily and easily detached, when desired.

The invention consists in combining the article of jewelry and the head or setting with the screw-fastenin g above described, and with a a spring lock or catch attached to the one and adapted to automatically engage with the other when the parts are screwed home,so as to prevent them from becoming accident: ally unscrewed, but preferably accessible at some point, so that it can be readily forced out of engagement and unlocked when it is desired to transfer the stone to another article of wear.

In one form herewith shown, Figs. 6 and 7, the catch may be automatically unlocked by simply unscrewing the head or setting if sufficient force be applied; but the spring will effectually prevent any unintentional or accidental disengagement of the parts.

8 and 9, each of which articles (designated without reference to their specific form by the reference-letter A) is provided with a screwstem a, adapted to enter the screw-socket e of the head or setting E, which holds the stone. A nick or recess m is cut in the edge of the screw-socket, and a spring-catch n is secured to the article of jewelry in such position that when the head is screwed thereto and fully seated the latch will automatically engage in the recess and prevent any accidental unscrewing. The nick may be made in the stem and the catch attached to and carried by the head, if preferred; but the arrangement first described is ordinarily the better.

The form of the nick and spring-catch is not material, so long as they are arranged and adapted to properly perform the functions herein'set forth. Ordinarily I prefer to arrange the catch as shown in Figs. 2, 3, 4, and 5, with one end projecting slightly at the outer side of the head, so that it can be readily moved to unlock the screw by applying the thumb-nail to it and pressingit in the proper within the stem, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and

10, so that it can be reached and operated by the thumb-nail applied at that end of the stem which is most remote from the head or setting. The spring-catch may also be made with beveled edges or corners, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7, in which case it will be automatically unlocked by forcibly unscrewing the head, and in this instance no part of the catch need be exposed or otherwise accessible or visible. The screw-socket or interior thread may be formed on the article A, and the stem or exterior thread on the head, if preferred, this being a mere reversal of parts,

and therefore an obvious equivalent.

These various modifications of form and arrangement will sufficiently illustrate the nature and scope of the invention. and enable any mechanic skilled in the art to adapt its application as the different sizes and forms of the article may require.

Having thus described my invention, What-I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent. is

1. The combination of an article of jewelry A, having a sum -stem a, with a head or set ting E, having a scrcw-socket e, and with a spring-catch 11, carried by one of said parts and adapted to engage in a recess m in the other part when the two parts are fully screwed together, substantially as described.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an arlicle of jewelry having a detachable screwhead or setting, combined with an automatic spring-lock for locking the parts to prevent accidental unscrewing, substantially as described.

The combination of an article of jewelry A with a screw head or setting E and a spring-lock having a projection by which it can be unlocked, substantially as described.

JOHN ,F. MORSE.

\Vitnesses:

HARRY BITNER, L. HILL. 

